Improvement in propulsion of canal-boats



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N. PEYERS. PHOTLlTHoGRAPNEn, WASHINGTON D C anni @fitte THOMAS MAIN, OF GREEN POINT, NEW ITO/RK,

Letters Patent No. 111,462, dated January 3,1,.1871'.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROPULSION OF CANAL-BOAT-S.

The Schedule referredV to in these Letters Patent and 'making part of the sama.

To allfwhomtt may concern 15e it known that I, THOMAS MAIN, of (Jl-reen Ioint,

in the county of Kings and State of New York, have and other boats, and has for its objects to confine the movement of the water and to. free the screw from ohstruction.

A represents the cavity in the bow of a boat, B, and is eoveredon all sides except at the bottom.

The cavity is shown to extend only a short distance toward the stern, but may reach entirely back, diminishing toward the stern, as shown. Ihe object of this construction is, first, to prevent the formation of a wave on each side, which would retard the progress of the vessel and wash the canal banks; also, to-force the water .under the vessel, which will prevent its settlingon the bottom when sailing:r in shallow lwater.

The water will, by the screw, be drawn into the cavity and displaced in front of the boat, being replaced behind the same. The screw-is concealed within the cavity, and will, therefore, not produce the violent side currents by which the canal banks are' frequently seriously injured. The speed of the vessel will, in consequence, be materially increased.

A wire netting, a, may be secured across the front end of the cavity in the boat, for the purpose of a1'- rest-ing obstructions of all kinds and preventing them from encnmbering the operation of the screw.

As the cavity diminishes toward the-stern the water which is crowded back bythe screw will be apt to ele.-

vate the boat and lift it over shallow places, obtaindownward to the bottom of the boat, `substantially as desori bed.

THOMAS MAIN.

XVitneSses Gmo. W; MABEE, 'l.. lMosn'nn. 

